Method and apparatus for controlling resonant frequency of an optical interferometer cavity
First Claim
1. A frequency control apparatus for an optical interferometer cavity having a part having a dimension defining resonant frequency comprising:
- a plurality of substantially straight electrical conductors adapted for connection to a source of electrical potential and mounted on and mechanically secured to said part and providing a conduction path substantially parallel to said dimension and having a coefficient of thermal expansion and functioning to transmit mechanical force to said part as a function of electro-thermally induced change in length of said conductors for changing said resonant frequency.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for controlling the resonant frequency of an optical interferometer cavity having a part having a dimension defining the resonant frequency. An electrical conductor adapted for connection to a source of electrical potential is mounted on and mechanically secured to the part of the cavity which has the dimension defining the resonant frequency. The electrical conductor provides a conduction path substantially parallel to the frequency defining dimension of the aforementioned cavity part and has a coefficient of thermal expansion. Mechanical force is transmitted to the aforementioned cavity part as a function of electrothermally induced change in the length of the electrical conductor, thus causing a change in the resonant frequency of the cavity.
31 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A frequency control apparatus for an optical interferometer cavity having a part having a dimension defining resonant frequency comprising:
a plurality of substantially straight electrical conductors adapted for connection to a source of electrical potential and mounted on and mechanically secured to said part and providing a conduction path substantially parallel to said dimension and having a coefficient of thermal expansion and functioning to transmit mechanical force to said part as a function of electro-thermally induced change in length of said conductors for changing said resonant frequency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of controlling the resonant frequency of an optical interferometer cavity having a part having a dimension defining resonant frequency comprising:
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a. mechanically securing to said part a plurality of substantially straight electrical conductors having a coefficient of thermal expansion and having a conduction path substantially parallel to said dimension and having means for connection to a source of electrical potential; b. generating a mechanical force by connecting said conductors to a source of electrical potential thus causing an electro-thermally induced change in length of said conductors; and c. transmitting said mechanical force to said part thus changing said dimension.
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11. The method of claim 11 wherein said optical interferometer cavity comprises a laser tube having a wall providing said part with said electrical conductors mounted on said wall substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tube and in substantially uniformly circumferentially spaced relation on said wall said conductors being substantially continuously bonded over their length to said wall for transmitting their change-in-length force to said wall.
Specification